Greening the Flood: Sustainable Urban Solutions for Barangay Lorega, Cebu City

Urban flooding has become an urgent environmental issue in rapidly developing cities like Cebu City, Philippines, where accelerated urbanization has led to increased impervious surfaces and limited natural water absorption. Traditional flood management approaches, such as concrete drainage systems, are proving insufficient amid the growing impacts of climate change. This study investigates the effectiveness of green infrastructure (GI) in urban flood control, with a focus on Barangay Lorega. GI includes sustainable, nature-based solutions such as permeable pavements, green roofs, rain gardens, and constructed wetlands that offer both ecological and social benefits. Employing a descriptive-quantitative research design, the study combined survey data and stakeholder interviews to evaluate GI’s flood mitigation capacity, cost-effectiveness, and social relevance. Statistical results revealed no significant differences in flood control effectiveness based on demographic factors such as sex, age, civil status, or education. However, regression analysis showed that community engagement and awareness significantly influenced perceived effectiveness, while GI implementation demonstrated a modest yet meaningful impact. These findings suggest that while GI alone may not drastically transform urban flood resilience, it plays a valuable role when combined with public participation and informed governance. This study contributes to the growing body of knowledge on urban resilience and sustainable flood management, particularly in tropical, high-density settings. It offers insights for local policymakers, urban planners, and community stakeholders seeking to integrate green infrastructure into comprehensive climate-adaptive urban planning.